Machine for loading crackers onto conveyers



May 22, 1951 J. w. SMITH 2,553,683

MACHINE FOR LOADING (IIRACKERS ONTO CONVEYERS Filed Dec. 30. 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 22, 1951 J. w. SMITH 2,553,683

MACHINE FOR LOADING CRACKERSv ONTO CONVEYERS Filed Dec. 30, -1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 w w w@ INVENTOR.

May 21?.,- 1951 I J. w. SMITH MACHINE FOR LOADING CRACKERS ONTO CONVEYERS Fie'd Dec. so, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 W5 'ffm wlw YQ b,

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May 22, 1951 J. w.'sM|'rH' MACHINE FOR LOADING CRACKERS ONTO CONVEYERS Filed Dec. 30, 1949 's sheets-sheet e Patented May 272, QS

UNITE-Dv stares e 2,553,683 MACHINE roR LoAmNGfoAoKERs oN'rol lCONVEYERS J oln W. Smith, Battle Creek,l Mich.,1 assigner to Battle Creek Bread Wrapping lMachine Company, Battle Creek, Mich. Application December 30, iefislse'ria'l No. 136,640

(cram-sas) 17 Claims. 1

This'l'invntion relates to improvements in a machine 'for loading'crackers onto a conveyer. ."he principal objects of this invention are: i, First, to provide a machineffor separating a predetermined number of crackers 1rfrom the bottoms of'two stacks of crackers and'moving the-'separated crackers transversely onto a movin conveyer with the charge of crackers from "onestack being de r'JositedA on' top ofk thel charge from the other stack, the mechanism having 'interlocking means preventing the operation of the'second charging operation unless the'rst charging pe'fatOi iS co'nlplt.

Second, to 'providemeans' vfor controlling the descent of a stack of vcrackers in a charging chute' whereby the crackers are successively Vlowered""v'itl'iou't'breaking to a transverse load- 'ingposition and the crackers remaining in the chiite are separatedvertically from the charge beingmoved transversely to prevent rubbing and crumbling of the surface of the crackers.

rIhird, to provide gripping mechanism operated in' timed relationship with an elevator to alternately 'grip and release crackers disposed `inyavertical charging chute over the'elevator tok cont-rol the number: of4 crackers which are permitted to move Vdownwardly with the elevator. I Fourth, to provide grip opening and gripholding mechanism associatedv with a charging chute-and a vertically reciprocating elevator and havingadjustable releasing mechanism associated with the elevator whereby vthe gripping mechanism may be caused to close or move to gripping position at various points in the vertical-travel of the elevator:

` Fifth, to providea cracker loading machine in which a pluralityof loading chutes,v eachy associated with a transverse loading bar, are reciprocated in timed relationship with the pockets of-,a continuously movingconveyer and in which .flthe loading chutes areA provided with grippers from" a consideration of the following description and claims.

The drawings, of which there are six sheets, illustrate a preferred form of my loading mechanism'.

vFig. 1` is a rear elevational view, partially broken away in vertical longitudinal cross s'ection along the' planel of the line I-l in Fig. 3, of' myl'oading' mechanism associated with a continuously movable conveyer of a wrapping machine.

Fig". 2 is a 'fragmentary plan view of my loading mechanism partially broken away in horizontal cross section along' the plane of the line 2 2 in Fi'gs; 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of my loading mechanism viewed from the entranceV end of the Vconveyer and withv portions of the conveyer and loader reciprocating mechanism broken away in transverse vertical cross section'.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal cross sectional view through thev conveyer taken along the plane'of the line 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is- 'an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectionalview through one of the loading positions ofmy machine taken along the plane of the `line 5 5 in Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vfragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line'-S in Fig, 2 and illustrating the grip holding mechanism of thefirst loading position.

Fig-7 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view`- through the grip releasing and adjusting mechanism of my machinev taken along the plane of thebroken line 'l-'l in'Fig. 5. y

Fig; 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional View taken along the plane of the line 8-8 in Figs. 2 and 5.r

The' major components" of my machine are arranged" andassembled' to cooperate with the loading' conveyer l of an article wrapping or handling machine- (not illustrated). The conveyer-is" provided with suitable chains 2 trained overa sprocket 3 and constantly driven tocontinuously advance the flights of crossbars 4 which form article receiving pockets 5, it being the purposeof my machine to load each of the pockets with a predetermined number of articles;such as the soda crackers illustrated at 6, withoutY stopping the conveyer. To accomplish this purpose I have provided a support or pedestal 'l mounted'on the legs 8 alongside of the'r conveyer and yprovided with c am actuating mechanism generally indicated@ 9. and driven in timed relationship with the conveyer by the chain l. The end members II of the pedestal form supports for the transversely spaced longitudinally extending slide rods I2 and the slide rods I2 in turn support a longitudinally reciprocable carriage generally indicated at I3. The end members I4 of the carriage are provided with transversely extending grooves I5 forming slideways for the loading slide generally indicated at I8. The end members I4 of the carriage are also provided with vertical grooves Il (see Fig. 3) along their forward edge slidably supporting an elevator mechanism generally indicated at I8.

The carriage i3 is reciprocated longitudinally by means of the link I9 (see Fig. 1) connected tothe crank arm on the rockshaft ZI. The rockshaft 'I is carried on the leading end member I I of the pedestal and oscillated by the crank arm 22 and link 23 extending to the crank arm 24 of a rockshaft 25 in the cam drive 9. The carriage l is transversely reciprocated by the crank arm 2E mounted on the rockshaft 2l and having a sliding engagement with the square pushbar 28 on the carriage. The rockshaft 2l is journalled in the end members of the pedestal I and drivenV by the crank arm 29 and link 35 which extends downwardly to the crank arm SI of a second rockshaft 32 operated by the cam drive mechanism 9. The elevator I8 is vertically reciprocated by engagement of the crank arms 33 with the square actuating bars 34 secured to the 'rear side of the elevator. The cra-nk arms 33 are carried on the longitudinally extending shaft 35 journalled in the ends of the pedestal 'I and the shaft 35 is actuated by the crank arm 36 connected to the link 3l which extends downwardly to an adjustable crank arm 33 secured to a third rockshait 3S on the cam actuating mechanism 9.

The mechanism thus far described for longitudinally reciprocating a carriage While transversely reciprocating a loading slide and vertically reciprocating an elevator on the carriage is more particularly described and claimed in my copending application for Loading Machine, Serial No. 746,535, led May '7, 1947. My present ini vention is directed to mechanism for adapting this loading machine for use in loading soda 'crackers and similar fragile articles. Soda crackers in particular are characterized by being very fragile and having irregular surface bubbles which are easily broken or crumbled if the crackers are slid along the surface of each other. It is consequently essential to the successful loading of soda crackers that the crackers of a stack be separated vertically before there is any relative transverse movement between the crackers.

The mechanism for conducting the crackers t' a position where they may be moved transversel by the slide i6 consists first of a primary loading chute 4B and a secondary loading chute 4I disposed longitudinally oi the machine alongside of the conveyer i'. The chutes 45 and 4I are supported by the brackets 42 on a primary carriage plate 43 and a secondary carriage plate 44 respectively. The carriage plates are in turn supported from the forward slidebar I2 of the carriage by the angle shaped brackets 45 and it will be noted, particularly in Figs. 1 and 4, that the primary carriage plate 43 is mounted substantially lower than the secondary carriage plate 44 and approximately level with the surface of the conveyer I.

The transversely reciprocable slide assembly I5 includes the longitudinally extending support 46 which slides along the carriage I3 and upon which are mounted the primary loading bar 41 and the secondary loading bar 48. The loading bars 4l and 48 are arranged vertically to slide closely but freely over the surfaces of the two carriage plates 43 and 44 respectively and in their advanced position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, are operative to push a charge of crackers from underneath the loading chutes off of the carriage plates and into pockets of the conveyer I. The secondary carriage plate and loading bar are elevated so that the charge of crackers deposited by the secondary loading bar will be pcsitioned on top of an initial charge previously deposited in the pocket by the primary loading bar.

The descent of the stacks of crackers in the charging chutes and 4I is controlled by pairs of elevator lingers 49 which are directly connected by means of the uprights 50 to the elevator slide I8 on the carriage. The carriage plates 43 and 44 are slotted as at 5I to pass the elevator lingers, and the loading bars 4-1 and 43 are similarly slotted as at 52. As is described in detail in my above mentioned application the elevator slide I8 and fingers 49 are reciprocated vertically in timed relationship with the loading bars and carriage to ascend `to the bottom of the stack of crackers 5 and support the stack of crackers while the loading bars are being retracted from the conveyer and While the carriage is being retracted toward the entrance end of the conveyer to register with an incoming empty pocket of the conveyor. After the loading bars are fully retracted the elevator slide I8 and fingers 49 descend to gently lower the stacks of crackers 5 to the level of the carriage plates 43 and 44.

In order to determine the number of crackers which will be loaded transversely by the loading bars il and 48, each of the charging vchutes 40 and 4I isprovided with a forward gripper shaft 53 and a rear gripper shaft 54. The shafts 53 and 54 are journalledr in suitable bearings 55 secured to the walls of the charging chutes and the front and rear shafts of each chute are interconnected by the'crank arms 5S and link 57 for simultaneous and opposite rotation. Each of the gripper shafts 53 and 54 is provided with three depending arms 58 having the vertically adjustable grippers 59 mounted on the lower ends thereof. The grippers Y! are provided with soft deformable gripping teeth Si] of sponge rubber or some similar substance and the gripping teeth of the front and rear grippers are opposed as illustrated to engage the front and rear edges of crackers in the charging chutes. Springs BI (see Figs. 2 and 3) are connected between xed pins 52 on the charging chutes and pins 53 extending from the rear gripper shafts to constantly bias the gripper shafts and gripper teeth 60 inwardly into gripping engagement with the crackers 6;

The gripper shafts and gripper teeth are moved outwardly away from the crackers in timed ref lationship with the upward motion of the elevator lingers 49 and uprights 5G by means of the opening plates G4 secured to and projecting rearwardly from each of the rear gripper shafts 54. One of the elevator uprights 58 associated with the primary charging chute carries at its upper end a grip opening pawl which is pivoted to theupright at 65 (see Fig. 6). The pawl 66 is constantly urged .forwardly by the. spring 61 to be in position to engage the underside of the opening plate v64 .andmove the` .grippers to open positionat the eXtreme .upper Vpliinit. of .motion of .theupright 50. A .lockout ringer 68` .on the opening pawl projects rearwardlyto engage the cam surface 69 on a lockout lever 10 when it is desired to de-actuatethe .opening pawl. The lockout lever is pivotally supported on a bracket 'H carried on the carriage plate 43 andarranged to be selectively swung into or out of operative engagement with the lockout nger by means of the .rotatable cam 12 remotelycontrolled by the vilexible cable 13.

After the grippers-,on the primary charging chute have .been opened by actuation of the plate 64, as described above, they are held in open position by engagement of a releasing pawl 14 with Y.the releaseplate 15 (see Figs. 5,'7 and 8). The release plate 15 is secured, to the rear gripper shaft Ain much the same manner as thel opening plate 64 and Vis swung upwardlyinto position to be engaged by the release pawl concurrently with upward motion of the opening plate. 'Ihe releasepawl 14, asit most clearly illustrated in Figs. 5, '7 and 8, is pivotally supported on the shank of a pivot screw 'I6 engaged with the upright flange 11 of an angle shaped support bracket 'F8. The bracketlB is inturn supported by the block 19 on the primary carriage plate 43. A spring 80 connected between therelease pawl and a iixed vpoint on therflange 11 constantly urges the release pawl into holding engagement withrjthe release plate'lS.

Slidably disposed between the release pawl 14 and the upright ange 'l1 ofthe support bracket is a release operating arm.8l having the release pin 82 projecting laterally from its lower end through a slot 83 in the lower end of the release pawl. The release operating arm 8| in turn deiines a vertical slot S embracing the shank of the pivot pinA 16 so. that the release operating arm and release pin may be moved vertically with respect to the release pawl whose vertical position is xed and determinedby the pin 16. The release pin 32projects beyond the release pawl and is arrangedtogbe engaged bythe `cam surface 85formed on the upper end of therelease upright 86.. The upright 86 is formed asa continuation of one-of the elevator uprights 5t associated with the iirst charging chute.

In elevated position of the release upright 86 thel cam surface 85 will clear the release pin 82 permitting the spring 8,5 to hold the release pawl in locking engagement with the plate 15. y As the elevator and release upright 86 descend, the cam surface willengagethe release pinu82 and pivot both the release operating arm, 87| and release pawl 'i4 to disengagethe release pawl from Ythe plate and permit thegrippers to close. Depending upon .the adjustment of the grippers 59 on the gripper .arms 58 and the vertical adjustment ofthe release pin 82, the elevator lingers 49 will have lowered a predetermined number-of crackers below the gripper teeth 60 so that when the grippers close, a predetermined charge of crackersV will remain-on theelevator fingers below the gripper teeth v to be acted uponby theloading bar 41. In operating the loading'machine it is contemplatedthat the gripping teeth and release mechanism will Vbe adjusted to release the grippers prior to the elevator reaching its lower limit o1" travel whereby the charge of crackers remaininglongthe` elevator will be lowered a short distance. below those crackers retained in the chute. Thrills there ifs 1x10-rubbing betweenthe Surgiaces of the vcrackers as `.the charge is; slid Yfromfthe chute .onto the conveyor.

While vertical adjustment of the gripper arms 59 will effect a generaland approximate-count ofthe number of crackers whichwill be loaded witheach .charge this adjustment cannot beaccomplished Whilev thev machine is.. in operation. In vorderito,l accomplish adjustment oi'the: charge whilel the machneis operating, as when the .crackers vbeing 'supplied r to `the .chute become thinner or` thicker, I have provided forv Vertical adjustment of the release .operating arm V'8l and release-pin.82.y PivotallyV secured at Savon-the vertical` flange 11 is a vrelease adjusting arm 89 :having the adjusting screw connected to its rear end and rotatable in an ear .on the ilange Tl. The forward end of` theyreleaseadjusting arm isslotted as at 9| to receive therelease adv.- justing pin '.192l carried bythe releaseoperating arml.. The. pin `Q2 projectsthrought a slot 93 inthe anger'llfandso can be moved vertically by therelease adjusting arm to vary the vertical, position of the arm 8| and pin 82.. By loweringthe adjusting pin 92 and releasing pin 82, the cam surface 85 may be made to actuate the release mechanism later inthe downward movement of the elevator thus permitting an additional cracker to clearthe gripping teeth .66 be.- fore the grippers are closed. A reverseadjust.- ment `of* the pin 92 obviouslyreleases :the grippers sooner and reduces a number of. crackers re.- l'eased to the elevator.

The gripping and releasing mechanism associated with the secondary chargingv chute 4I is essentially the same as that just described in con.- nection with the primary charging chute. The rear gripper shaft A54. is .provided lwith'a similar opening` plate 674A and release .plateflf and a re.- lease adjusting arm.89 land associated mechanism is arranged to cooperate with the release plate 15. However, the lockout lever 70A associated with the yopening pawl 65A-is connected by means of a link 9 4 (see. Figs. l, 2 and' 4) with 'a crank arm 95 mounted on the rinterlocking?shaftV 96 which extends transversely of the loading inlachine between the charging liop'pers.`v The for"- ward endof thev interlocking shaftfis provided with a depending ringer 9T and the shaft and finger are constantly'urged downwardly by the spring 93. The linger sloverlies the vedge of the conveyer and will ride up and' over the initial charge of lcrackers deposited in each pocket by the primary charging chute and loading bar. So long as the finger 91"' is raised by'a charge-of crackers the shaft 96 and link 94* will rotate the lockout arm 10A out of engagement with the opening pawl 65A and the secondary charging chute and loading bar will function to add-aseoondary charge of crackers to each'pocket.- However, should theprimary loading bar `fail to function, vfor some reason, the i-"in'ger '91 will remain down and the lockout arm IllAwill tilt the opening-pawl 65A out of operative engagementwith the opening plate of the secondfaryfgripper. shafts and no crackers will be `.released tothe `sec.- ondary elevator.

Havingv thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new ,anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is: f

- 1. In, combination with a longitudinally re;- ciprocable carriage havinga tnansverselyreciprocable slide and vertically reciprocable elevator for loading .articles on a conveyer positioned alongside of saidicarriagamechanism for determining l.the number; `of articles. released :to said .elevator attacca 7 and slideV comprising, primary and secondary carriage plates mounted in horizontal longitudinally spaced relation on said carriage with the secondary plate disposed vertically above said primary plate, loading bars movable with said slide and disposed over said plates, primary :and secondary charging chutes carried by said plates over said loading bars, elevator fingers reciprocable with said elevator and movable in the bottoms of said chutes down to the level of said plates, horizontal gripper shafts mounted on the front and rear of said chutes and having depending gripper arms adjustably secured thereto, spring means biasing said gripper shafts to rotate said gripper arms inwardly of said chutes, said arms having soft deformable gripper teeth on their lower ends, opening plates secured to the rear vgripper shafts, opening pawls carried by elevator lingers associated with each of said chutes and engageable with said opening plates to rotate said gripper shafts and arms out of said chutes, releasing pawls pivotally mounted at `fixed points above said carriage plates adjacent to said rear gripper shafts, releasing plates secured to said rear gripper shafts, spring means biasing said release pawls into locking engagement With said release plates to hold said shafts in gripper opening position, a release operating arm pivotally and vertically adjustably mounted with respect to each of said release pawls, means including screw adjusted levers for vertically adjusting said operating arms, a release pin carried by each of said release arms and laterally engageable with said release pa-wls, release uprights connected to elevator ngers associated with each of said chutes and having cam surfaces engageable with said release pins to move said release arms and release pawls to releasing position, lockout levers associated with each of said loading chutes and havnected to actua-te the lockout lever associated with said second charging chute to prevent opening of the grippers on said second Ichute if there is no primary charge in the pocket approaching said secondary chute.

2. ln combination with a longitudinally reciprocable carriage having a transversely reciprocable slide and vertically reciprocable elevator for loading articles on a conveyor extending longitudinally alongside of said carriage, mechanism for determining the number of articles released to said elevator and slide comprising, primary and secondary supports mounted on said carriage with the secondary support disposed vertically above the level or" said primary support and spaced longitudinally therefrom toward the discharge end oi the conveyor, loading bars movable with said slide and disposed in longitudinally and vertically relation adjacent to said supports, primary and secondary charging chutes carried by said supports over said loading bars, elevator fingers reciprocable with said elevator and movable within the bottom of said chutes to the levels 'shafts mounted on opposite sides of said chutes 8 l and having depending gripper arms adjustably secured thereto, spring means biasing said gripper shafts to rotate said gripper arms inwardly of said chutes, said arms having soft deformable gripper portions on their free ends, opening plates secured to gripper shafts associated with each of said chutes, opening pawls carried by elevator lingers associated with each of said chutes and engageable with said opening plates to rotate said gripper shafts and arms outwardly of said chutes at the upper limit of travel of said fingers, releasing pawls pivotally mounted at xed points on said supports, release plates secured to gripper shafts associated with each chute, means biasing said release pawls toward locking engagement with said release plates, release operating arms pivotally mounted on said supports and vertically adjustable with respect to each of said release pawls, means for selectively adjusting said release operating arms vertically, a release pin carried by each of said release arms and laterally engageable with the release pawl associated with its release arm, release uprights connected to elevator fingers associated with each of said chutes and having cam surfaces engageable with said release pins to move said release arms and release pawls to releasing position by downward movement of said elevator, lockout levers associated with said loading chutes and having cam surfaces swingable into engagement with the opening pawl of each chute to move said opening pawls out of operative engagement with said opening plates', remotely controllable means for actuating the lockout lever associated with the primary loading chute, and interlocking means including a finger actuated by the presence or absence of a primary charge in the pocket of the conveyor moving away from said primary chute, said interlocking means being connected to actuate the lockout lever associated with said second charging chute to move the openingpawl of said second chute to inoperative position.

3. In combination with a longitudinally reciprocable carriage having a transversely reciprocable slide and vertically reciprocable elevator for loading articles on a conveyer extending longitudinally alongside vof said carriage, mechanism for determining the number of articles rcleased to said elevator and slide comprising, pri- -mary'and secondary supports `mounted on said carriage with the secondary support disposed vertically above the level of said primary support and spaced longitudinally therefrom toward the discharge end of the conveyer, loading bars movable with said slide and disposed in longitudinally and vertically spaced relation adjacent to said supports, primary and secondary charging chutes carried by said supports over said loading bars, elevator fingers reciprocable with said elevator and movable within the bottoms of said chutes to the levels of the bottoms of said bars, horizontal gripper shafts mounted on opposite sides of said chutes and having gripper arms secured thereto, spring means biasing said gripper shafts to rotate said gripper arms inwardly of said chutes, said arms having gripper portions on their free ends, opening plates secured to gripper shafts associated with each of said chutes, opening pawls carried 'by-elevator fingers associated with each of said chutes and engageable with said opening plates to rotate said gripper shafts and arms outwardly of said chutes at the 'upper limit of' travel of said ngers, releasing pawls pivotally mounted at Xed points on said supports, release plates secured to gripper shafts associated with each chute, means biasing said release pawls toward locking engagement with said release plates, release operating arms pivotally'mounted on said supports and vertically adjustable with respect to each of said release pawls, means for selectively adjusting said releaseoperating arms vertically, a release pin carried by each of said release arms and laterally engageable with the release pa'wl associated with its release arm, release uprights connected to elevator fingers associated-with each of said chutes and having cam surfaces engageable vwith said release pins to In'ovesaid release arms and release pawls to releasingA position by downward movement of said elevator, lockout levers associated with said loading chutes and having cam surfaces swingable into engagement with the opening pawl of each chute to move said openingY pawls out of operative engagement withsaid opening plates, manually operated means for actuating the lockout leverassociated with the primary loading chute, and interlocking means including a nger actuated by the presence or absence of a primary charge in the pocket of the conveyer moving away from said primary chute, said interlocking means being connected to actuate the lockout lever associated with said second charging chute to move the opening pawl of said second chute to inoperative position.

4. In combination-with a longitudinally reciprocable Vcarriage having a transversely reciprocable slide .and vertically reciprocable elevator for loading articles on a conveyer extending longitudinally alongside of said carriage, mechanism for determining the ,number of articles released to said elevator and slide comprising, longitudinally spaced loading bars movable transversely of said slide toward and away from said conveyer, the second of said bars along the path of said conveyer being elevated above the level of the first bar, primary and secondary charging chutes carried by said carriage over said loading bars and adapted to receive a supply of at articles to be loaded, elevator ngers reciprocable With said elevator and movable within the bottoms of said chutes to the level of the bottoms of said bars, gripper shafts mounted on opposite Walls of said chutes and having gripper arms projecting from the axes of the shafts, means biasing said gripper shafts to rotate said gripper arms inwardly of said chutes, said arms having gripper portions on their swinging ends, plates projecting from one of the gripper shafts associated with each of said chutes, opening pawls carried by elevator fingers associated with said chutes and engageable with said plates to rotate said gripper shafts and arms out of said chutes, releasing pawls pivotally mounted at fixed points relative to said carriage and swingable into holding engagement with said plates, means biasing said release pawls toward holding engagement with said plates, release operating arms pivotally mounted with respect to each of said release pawls, release pins carried by said release arms and laterally engageable with said release pawls to effect concurrent pivotal motion of said release operating arms and pins, release uprights connected to elevator ngers associated with said chutes and having cam surfaces engageable with said release pins to move .said operating arms arid release pawls to releasing position, lockout levers associated with said loading chutes and having cam surfaces swingable into the paths of travel of the opening pawl associated with each chute to move said pawls out of operative en- 4Q arm .and said holding element out of holding gagement with said plates, manually controllablev means for actuating the lockout lever associated with the primary loadingV chute, and interlocking means including `a finger actuated by the presence or absence oi a primary charge in the pocket of the conveyer moving away from said primary chute, said interlocking means being connected to actuate the lockout lever associated with said second charging chute.

5. In a machine for loading crackers on the pockets of a continuously moving conveyer, the' combination with av carriage longitudinally reciprocable alongside said conveyer and a loading slide transversely reciprocable across said carriage to said conveyer and an elevator vertically reciprocable on said carriage comprising, a chute supported on said carriage over the path of said slide and adapted to advance a stack of crackersl toward said slide, gripper members oscillatablyl mounted on opposite sides of said chute and having soft deformable teeth swingable into said chute to grip the crackers therein at a point above said slide, means for biasing said members to gripping position,V a gripper opening element reciprocably carried bysaid elevator and engageable with a portion of said gripper members near the upper limit of travel of said elevator to oscillate said gripper members to opening position, a pivoted holding element mounted on a xed point on said carriage and Spring biased to.s`wing into holding engagement with a portion of said gripper members when said members are opened, a releasingA element pivotally and slidably mounted on said carriage and having a release pin laterally and slid-ably engageable with said holding element, a trip member vertically reciprocable with said elevator and having a cam surface engageable with said pin near the lower limit of travel of said .elevator to move said pin, said release engagement With said gripper members, and screw means mounted on said carriage for vertically adjusting said release element whereby the point at which said trip member will engage said pin may be varied.

6. In a machine for loading crackers on the pockets of a continuously moving conveyer, the

combination vwith a carriage longitudinally. re-

ciprocable alongside said conveyer and a loading slide transversely reciprocable across said carriage to said conveyer and an elevator vertically 1 reciprocable on said carriage comprising, a chute supported on said carriage over the path of vsaid slide and adapted to advance a stack of crackers toward said slide, gripper members oscillatably mounted on opposite sides of said chute and having teeth swingable into said chute to grip the crackers therein ata point above said slide means forbiasing said members to gripping position, a gripper opening element reciprocably.

carried by said elevator and engageable with a portion of said gripper members near the upperA limit of travel of said elevator to oscillate said gripper members to opening position, a pivoted holding element mounted on a xed point on said carriage and biased to swing into holding'. engagement with a portion of said gripper members when said members -are opened, a releasing element pivotally and slidably mounted on said carriage and having a release pin laterally and slidably engageable with said holding element, a, trip member vertically reciprocable with said elevator and having a surface engageable with said pin near the lower limit of travel of said elevator to move said pin, said release arm 11 and said holding element out of holding engagement with said gripper members, and means mounted on said carriage for vertically adjusting said release element whereby the point at which said trip member will engage said pin may be varied.

7. In a cracker loading machine, the combination with a continuously movable conveyer having pockets thereon which comprises, a carriage reciprocable in timed relationship with said conveyer, primary and secondary loading chutes supported on said carriage and disposed longitudinally along said conveyer, primary and secondary loading bars on said carriage transversely reciprocable through the bottoms of said primary and secondary chutes respectively, said secondary loading bar being elevated above the level of said primary bar, an elevator reciprocable on said carriage in timed relationship with said loading bars and having elevator ngers positioned to reciprocate Within said chutes tothe levels of the loading bars therein, opposed gripper elements oscillatably mounted on said chutes and having deformable gripping teeth swingable into and out of gripping position Within said chutes, opening elements reciprocable with said elevator and engageable at their upper limit oi travel with portions of said gripper elements to move said gripper elements and teeth out of gripping position, holding latches on said carriage spring biased into holding engagement with said gripper elements when said gripper elements are opened, release elements reciprocably carried by said elevator, actuating members carried by said carriage and having portions engageable with said latches and said release elements to unlatch said latches when said actuating members are engaged With said release elements, and means for independently adjusting the positions of said actuating members along the paths oi travel of said release elements to vary the points of release of said latches in the descending cycle ,of said elevator.

8. In an article loading machine, the combination with a continuously movable conveyor having pockets thereon which comprises, a carriage reciprocable in timed relationship with said conveyer, primary and secondary loading chutes supported on said carriage and disposed longitudinally along said conveyer, primary and secondary loading bars on said carriage transversely reciprocable through the bottoms of said primary and secondary chutes respectively, said secondary loading bar being elevated above the level of said primary bar, an elevator reciprocable on said carriage in timed relationship with said loading bars and having elevator ngers positioned to reciprocate within said chutes to the levels oi' the loading bars therein, opposed gripper elements oscillatably mounted on said chutes and having gripping teeth svvingable into and out of gripping position within said chutes, opening elements reciprocable with said elevator and enm gageable at their upper limit of travel with portions of said gripper elements to move said gripper elements and teeth out of gripping position, holding latches on said carriage, means for moving said latches into holding engagement With said gripper elements when said gripper elements are opened, release elements reciprocably carried by said elevator, actuating members carried by said carriage and having portions engageable with said latches and said release elements to unlatch said latches when said actuating members are engaged with said release elements, and

12I means for adjusting the positions of said actuating members along the paths of travel of said release elements to vary the points of release ofsaid latches in the descending cycle of said elevator.

9. In an article loading machine, the combination with a continuously movable conveyer having pockets thereon which comprises, a carriage reciprocable in timed relationship with said conveyer, a loading chute supported on said carriage, a loading bar on said carriage transversely reciprocable through the bottom of said chute, an elevator reciprocable on said carriage in timed relationship with said loading bar and positioned to reciprocate within said chute to the level 0f said loading bar, opposed gripper elements oscillatably mounted on said chute and having gripping teeth swingable into and out of gripping 4position within said chute, an opening element reciprocable with said elevator and engageable atits upper limit of travel with one of said gripper elementsto move said gripper elements and teeth out of gripping position, a holding latch on said carriage, means for moving said latch into hold'- ing engagement with said one of gripper elements when said gripper elements are opened, a release element reciprocably carried by said elevator, an actuating member carried by said carriage and having portions engageable with said latch and said release element to unlatch said latch when said actuating member is engaged with said release element, and means for adjusting the position of said actuating member along the path of travel of said release element to vary the point of release of said latch in the descending cycle of said elevator.

l0. In an article loading machine, the combination With a continuously movable conveyer having pockets thereon which comprises, a carriage reciprocable in timed relationship with f in timed relationship with said loading bar and ments and teeth out of gripping position, a hold-v ing latch'on said carriage, means for moving said latch into holding engagement with said one of gripper eiements when said gripper elements arev opened, a release element reciprocably carried by said elevator, and an actuating member carried by said carriage and having portions engageable with said latch and said release element to unlatch said latch when said actuating memberis engaged with said release element in the descend ing cycle of said elevator. 1

il. In a machine for loading crackers and the like into the pockets of a continuously movable conveyer, the combination comprising, a carriage reciprocable in timed relationship with said conveyer, a slide on said carriage transversely reciprocable in timed relationship therewith, an elevator on said carriage vertically reciprocable in timed relationship therewith, a feed chute on said carriage positioned over the path of travel of said slide and adapted to feed crackers to said slide, an article supporting 1in-ger connected to said elevatorand vertically-reciprocable in said chute to-lower the articles thereinto in front of said slide, gripper elements'including soft deformable teeth oscillatablvv mounted on said chute above the upper limit of movement of saidk elevator-nger `for motion into and out of gripping engagement with articlesin sa'id chute, opening means on said carriage actuated by one of said timed elements and connectable with said gripper elements to openfsaid gripper elements when -said lnger approaches the upper limit 'oi its travel,-a latch for holding Asaidgripper elements in open position, a latch trip member on said carriage arranged to be engaged and actuated by one of said timed elements to trip said latch member andrelease `said gripper element prior to the elevator reaching its lower limit of travel, and means for adjusting said latch trip member with respect to its actuating element to vary the time of release of said latch in the cycle of said elevator.

12. In a machine for loading crackers and the like, the combination comprising, a support, a slide on said support transversely reciprocable thereon, an elevator on said support vertically reciprocable thereon, a feed chute on said support positioned over the path of travel of said slide and adapted to feed crackers to said slide, an article supporting ringer connected to said elevator and vertically reciprocable in said chute to lower the articles thereinto in front of said slide, 'gripper elements including teeth oscillatably mounted on said chute above the upper limit of movement or" said elevator nger for motion into and out or gripping engagement with articles in said chute, opening means on said support actuated by one of said timed elements and connectable with said gripper elements to open said gripper elements when said nger approaches the upper limit of its travel, a latch for holding said gripper elements in open position, a latch trip member on said support arranged to be engaged and actuated by one of said timed elements to trip said latch member and release said gripper element prior to the elevator reaching its lower limit of travel, and means for adjusting said latch trip member with respect to its actuating element to vary the time of release of said latch in the cycle of said elevator.

13. In a machine for loading articlesinto the pockets of a continuously movable conveyor, the combination comprising, a carriage reciprocable in timed relationship with said conveyer, a slide on said carriage transversely reciprocable in timed relationship therewith, an elevator on said carriage vertically reciprocable in timed relationship therewith, a feed chute on said carriage positioned over the path of travel of said slide and adapted to feed crackers to said slide, an article supporting finger connected to said elevator and vertically reciprocable in said chute to lower the articles thereinto in front of said slide, gripper elements oscillatably mounted on said chute above said elevator finger for motion into and out of gripping engagement with articles in said chute, means for closing said gripper elements into gripping position, opening means on said carriage actuated by one of said timed elements and operable to open said gripper elements when said finger approaches the upper limit of its travel, a latch for holding said gripper elements in open position, a latch trip rmember on said carriage arranged to be actuated by one of said timed elements to trip said latch member and release said gripper elements prior to the elevator combination comprising, a carriage reciprocable" in timed-relationship with said-conveyor, aslideon said carriage -transversely reciprocable-in timed relationship therewith, 'an elevator `ori-said carriage vertically reciprocable intimed relationship therewith, a feed chute on-said carr-iagef:po'si tionedover the path of travel of said slide and adapted to feed crackers to said slide,l an article supporting finger connected'to said elevator and` vertically reciprocable in said chute to lower the articles thereinto in front of said slide, gripper elements oscillatably mounted on said chute above said elevator nger for motion into and out of gripping engagement with articles in said chute, means for closing said gripper elements into gripping position, opening means on said carriage actuated by one of said timed elements and operable to open said gripper elements when said finger approaches the upper limit of its travel, a latch for holding said gripper elements in open position, and a latch trip member on said carriage arranged to be actuated by one of said timed elements to trip said latch member and release said gripper elements prior to the elevator reaching its lower limit of travel.

15. In a machine for loading articles, the combination comprising, a support, a timed slide transversely reciprocable on said support, an elevator vertically reciprocable on said support in timed relationship with said slide, a feed chute on said support positioned over the path of travel of said slide and adapted to feed crackers to said slide, an article supporting nger connected to said elevator and vertically reciprocable in said chute to lower the articles thereinto in front of said slide, an article gripper element mounted on said chute above said elevator finger for motion into and out of gripping engagement with an article to support said article and articles thereabove in said chute, opening means on said support actuated by one of said timed elements and operable to open said gripper element when said nger is near the upper limit of its travel, a latch for holding said gripper element in open position, and a latch trip member on said support arranged to be actuated by one of said timed elements to trip said latch member and release said gripper element prior to the elevator reaching its lower limit of travel.

16. In a machine for loading articles, the combination comprising, a support, a timed loading slide transversely reciprocable across said support, an elevator vertically reciprocable on said support in timed relationship with said slide, a chute on said support over the path of said slide and adapted to advance a stack of articles toward said slide, means on said elevator positioned to move and support articles in said chute, a gripper mounted on said sup-port and swingable into said chute to grip an article therein at a point above said elevator, means for biasing said gripper to closed gripping position, means carried by said support and operable by one of said timed elements near the upper limit of travel of said elevator to move said gripper to opening position, holding means mounted on said support and biased to swing into holding engagement with a portion of said gripper when said gripper is opened, a releasing element movably mounted on said support and engageable with said holding means, means operable in timed relationship with one of said timed elements and engageable with said releasing element near the lower limit of travel of said elevator to move said releasing element to move said holding means to close said gripper,` and means mounted on said support for adjusting the relative positions of said releasing element and holding means whereby the point at which said gripper will be closed may be varied.

17. In a machine for loading articles, the combination comprising, a support, a timed loading slide transversely reciprocable across saidsupport, an elevator vertically reciprocable on said support in timed relationship with said slide, a

chute on said support over the path of said slide and adapted to advance a stack of articles toward said slide, means on said elevator positioned to move and support articles in said chute, a gripper mounted on said support and swingable into.

erable in timed relationship with one of said timed elements near the lower limit of travel of said elevator to close said gripper.

JOHN W. SMITH.

No references cited. 

